Baby II Sex: boy Born: 00 January, 2006 Age: 7 years & 145 days Birthday in: 220 days Starsign: Capricorn Development: See the 32 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

I smile when I think of Jake. He is my little class clown. He will attempt to do any trick just to see if he can do it, or even better...if he can make you laugh. He is busy. He is strong. He is strong-willed. He tests me. He has made me a much better parent. Patience is a virtue...I must remember this constantly.

Jake was due on January 14th. I went into my 40 week appointment to get checked. I had not progressed. So, my doctor scheduled me to be induced on January 19th. I was soooooo nervous. I was told to report to the hospital at 7 am. I got up at 5:00 am and shortly after, received a call from the hospital telling me that the hospital was over-crowded and since this was an elective procedure, they couldn't let me come in yet. They told me they would call me back in a couple hours to see how it was going. I was so hugely disappointed. I was huge and uncomfortable and was promised I would see my baby today, but now I was turned away. They called again a couple hours later and told me that it was still a "no go".

I cried and cried. At 11:00 I called the nurse's station directly. I was crying. I just happened to get a nurse who knew my husband (he was her daughter's teacher and coach). She told us if we could come in the next 15 minutes, she could get us in! We rushed, rushed, rushed!

Soon after arriving, they gave me some cervidil (spelling) and hooked me up to pitocin. It took quite a while for any progress. I was tired and hurting pretty badly and asked for my epidural. Unfortunately, the stars were not aligned for me or something, because the epideral did not take at all. He tried a couple different times and no such luck. I didn't want to have a baby on the 19th...the 20th sounded so much better. My doctor was really cool and let me breath it out on my own and start pushing around 11:00 pm. He was delivered at 12:20 am on January 20th.

Healthy and crying and weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 20.5 inches long. Jacob Andrew.

Baby I Sex: girl Born: 00 April, 2003 Age: 10 years & 56 days Birthday in: 309 days Starsign: Aries Development: See the 32 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

Grace Ryan is my sweet, beautiful daughter. She has the brightest smile and the warmest heart. I am so blessed. I was very anti-child during my younger years and into the first few years of my marriage. I loved my nieces and nephews, but had no desire to have one for myself. My husband always dreamed of children and was an amazing uncle. I guess he wore off on me because suddenly, I started noticing babies everywhere. I started to think that it might be ok to start a family of our own.

I got pregnant with Grace the second month we tried. I was shocked. I could hardly breath or walk or see when I saw those lines come across the pregnancy test. I cried the whole entire day. Lucky for me, I didn't have to work that day. I realized that there was no turning back now. I was terrified.

My pregnancy was pretty uneventful, which was very good. I went to my doctors appointment two days before my due date. Nothing. I was not even close...per my doctor. I went home and started working in the garden. I love gardening. I worked out there for several hours, probably doing more than I should. My husband and I went to the arboretum so I could get some work done and my back started hurting. I attributed it to all my yard work.

The next morning, I was at work and had to use the restroom. I go pee and notice this small gush of water. I immediately got a little frightened, but brushed it off because it stopped. I went back to my work. I felt like I needed to pee again...pressure. Sat down and more water gushed. I panicked. I grabbed my phone and waddled to a coat closet. I didn't want my volunteer to hear me. I called my husband. He was on code red alert...lol. He had never had a cell phone before and was not allowed one in his classroom. He knew the only reason I would call him was to tell him I was ready to have this baby. He answered all scared. I could hear the kids in his class screaming and yelling. They were excited because they knew what "the call" meant. I explained what was happening and was not sure it was my water breaking. He told me to call the hospital. So, I got off the phone with him and called the hospital. The nurse told me, "honey, sounds like you are having this baby today. Pack your bags and come in right away." I called him back and told him I had some things to finish up at work and I would be leaving soon.

Lucky for me, I had packed a bag of "stuff" in my car. I went out and grabbed it and changed my underwear and put on a new pad (I had been wearing a pad for the last two weeks just in case this happened). I decided to change my pants too. I worked frantically for the next two hours. I left work at noon and drove myself home. Yikes! Don't ever do this...I don't even remember driving.

I was home for about 15 minutes and started getting worried about my husband. I called him and he was just leaving his school 30 minutes away!!!! I guess he needed to make photocopies for the substitute. GRRRRR! Anyway, he got to the house and took me to the hospital...missing the turn first. LOL!

I checked into the hospital at 1:00 pm and she was born at 3:00 am. I had an epidural but it only worked on 1/2 my body. I had to lay on one side to keep her heart beat regulated. I pushed for a very long three hours.

She was 6 lbs 11 oz and 21.5 inches long. Baby Grace!

Baby III Sex: boy Born: 00 June, 2008 Age: 4 years & 358 days Birthday in: 7 days Starsign: Gemini Development: See the 32 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -